Support for Second Amendment at Record High

It’s bad news for gun-grabbers and other enemies of the Second Amendment – only 26% of respondents to a recent poll believe the government should ban handguns.

The poll is part of Gallup’s annual Crime poll, conducted Oct. 6-9. This year’s poll finds support for a number of gun-control measures at historical lows, including the ban on handguns, which is Gallup’s longest continuing gun-control trend, according to their website[1].

Gallup notes that the acceptance of gun ownership is not related to crime.

“In 2008, Gallup found widespread agreement[2] with the idea that the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of Americans to own guns. Americans may also be moving toward more libertarian views in some areas, one example of which is greater support for legalizing marijuana use[3],” Gallup reports.

“What’s interesting here is Americans are shifting to a more pro-gun stance despite high profile incidents of gun violence – like the Arizona shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 18 others,” reports CNN[4] in reaction to the findings.

Gallup also reported gun ownership at its highest level since 1993[5]. Forty-seven percent of American adults admit that they keep a gun in their household, which is the highest number recorded in almost two decades.

In 1993, the Clinton administration pushed through the Brady bill[6] to ban handguns. The law required a five day waiting period after purchasing a handgun. Clinton called the bill a “good beginning” for more gun control legislation.